10/27/10

THE NERVE! Arkansas School Board Member Clint McCance Wants 'Fags' DeadMidland School District is located about 85 miles northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.Midland School Board Member Clint McCance's Facebook page really speaks for itself.Says McCance in a status update responding to last week's Spirit Day in memory of gay and lesbian youth who killed themselves over bullying:“Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed therselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”
McCance's status updates were brought to the attention of HRC Backstory by R. Anthony Turner, a 1998 graduate of Midland High School.Writes McCance in response to commenters on his page:“No because being a fag doesnt give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves. It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die. If you arent against it, you might as well be for it.” He further writes, “I would disown my kids if they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone.”The Advocate made attempts to contact school officials: "The superintendent of the Midland school district was unavailable and a phone call to the principal of the Midland High School was not returned. There was no response to e-mails to the superintendent and to the secretary of the Midland school board."A Facebook page has been set up calling for McCance's removal.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Clint-McCance/170421922968484

10/25/10

There is very unfortunate news today as yet another young gay man has taken his own life. Twenty-six-year-old Joseph Jefferson of Brooklyn, New York reportedly committed suicide on Saturday by hanging, friends and associates of the former gay youth activist and HIV peer educator

Joseph Jefferson's Facebook page is now locked but over the weekend his last status message read: "I could not bear the burden of living as a gay man of color in a world grown cold and hateful towards those of us who live and love differently than the so-called 'social mainstream'. "

By most accounts, Jefferson was a true LGBT youth pioneer. The 2002 graduate of New York City's Harvey Milk High School later worked on HIV prevention and outreach for Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) and the now-shuttered People of Color in Crisis (POCC), New York City's leading HIV/AIDS groups for Black gay men. More recently, Joseph Jefferson was an assistant to Laurence Pinckney and James Saunders, New York City's popular Black LGBT event promoters, reports Nathan James. Jefferson was also active in New York City's colorful ballroom community.

"Joseph was truly a sweetheart," one friend who knew him well "Extremely bright and impassioned about social justice causes... It's such a loss." The friend, who requests anonymity, adds that Joseph Jefferson seemed in good spirits and "showed no indications of being unusually depressed."

"As an advocate for LGBT youth, Mr. Jefferson surely made a positive impact on those he met and counseled. But this same nurturing and enrichment he offered to others, was absent in his own life to such a degree, that he felt the only way to deal with the pain of his existence was to end it," wrote author and activist Nathan James on Facebook.

Joseph Jefferson becomes only the latest young LGBT person to commit suicide in recent weeks. Jefferson also becomes the third Black LGBT youth to commit suicide in three weeks.

At only 26-years-old, Joseph Jefferson was only beginning his journey in life and seemingly had so much to offer the community and other Black gay youth. Will this ever end? Will there ever be hope for young people such as Joseph Jefferson, Aiyisha Hassan, Raymond Chase and Tyler Clementi?

UPDATE: There will be a tribute tonight to Joseph Jefferson at the "I Love My Boo" forum at GMHC on West 24th Street in Manhattan.

THIS IS REALLY BECOMING TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH! WE MUST MAKE IT BETTER!

10/12/10

Article On Morehouse's Cross-Dressing Gay Community Stirs Controversy, Response From University President

The latest print issue of VIBE magazine contains a provocative article called "The Mean Girls Of Morehouse" which looks into the lives of four current and former Morehouse students who dress as "women" and represent a small segment of the openly gay community at Morehouse. And it raised hell on the internet streets.The article, written by Aliya S. King, profiles four students (two current, two former) who choose to dress as women, meaning they "...rock makeup, Marc Jacobs tote bags, sky-high heels and Beyonce - style hair weaves." The story itself developed from the controversial dress code policy issued by Morehouse recently stating that students were not allowed to wear caps, do-rags, sunglasses or sagging pants on the Morehouse campus or at college-sponsored events. But what had folks up in arms at the male-only school was the line that students couldn't wear women’s clothing: dresses, tops, tunics, purses or pumps. So, who wears high heels at Morehouse you ask?The first student profiled goes by the name of Diamond.“Morehouse wasn’t ready for me,” says Diamond. “I’m about freedom of expression. I’m about being whomever you truly are inside. I came to Morehouse because of all the historical leaders that attended and impacted the world so heavily. You know, I really wanted to follow in their footsteps. I don’t think Morehouse believes that someone like me—someone who wears heels and dresses—can uphold that reputation. But they’re wrong"

Diamond is a part of a crew, "The Plastics," made up of seven or eight former and current Morehouse students, some of whom share a townhouse in Atlanta. He tells VIBE that he and his crew took their name from the 2004Lindsay Lohan flick, Mean Girls, a nod to the A-list crowd. The Plastics all assume that the recent dress code policy was aimed directly at their personal freedom of expression, which sometimes includes foundation, cross-dressing, and even taking female hormones.

But Kevin Rome, the former vice president for Student Services for the College, says that people like Diamond are a small minority of the students at the College, and shouldn’t make up such a large percentage of the press the school has received about the appropriate attire policy. He says, “There are nearly 3,000 students at Morehouse, and maybe three that [the ban on women’s attire] applies to. We’re giving such a large influence on a minute population. It’s not representative of the school.”

And it's also not representative of the school's gay community. One of the most interesting pieces of the article talks about homophobia within the gay community itself. The Plastic's say their relationship with the gay community can be downright hostile. "It’s because we have a certain aura,” says Michael, one of the Plastics. "We don’t care what people think about us when it comes to how we dress and carry ourselves. Some people are uncomfortable with it.Kevin Webb, who runs Safe Space, an organization that supports the gay community at Morehouse puts it this way: “In some ways, it’s like it’s okay to be gay. But not that gay. Or it’s okay to be queer. But not that queer,” he says. “There is homophobia even within the gay community—which is something werehave to deal with if Morehouse is going to progress.”And if you're wondering about the stance the administration takes on the issue, here's the response from the college's President that was sent out to Morehouse alum:

October 9, 2010Dear Morehouse Community:

Next week, Vibe magazine, a hip-hop music and culture monthly, will publish in their October/November issue an article on Morehouse. I strongly disagree with the likely substance of this article and wanted to write to you directly to share my views.The article, entitled, “The Mean Girls at Morehouse,” purports to examine the lives of some of our gay brothers as it relates to the enforcement of our appropriate attire policy we enacted a year and a half ago. It seems clear from the headline alone that the Vibe editorial team’s intent is to sensationalize and distort reality for the purpose of driving readership. The title of the article speaks volumes about a perspective that is very narrow and one that is, in all likelihood, offensive to our students whether gay or straight.As president of this institution, as a Morehouse graduate and as a father, I am insulted by what is to be published. Addressing our young men as “girls” is deeply disturbing to me, no matter what the remainder of the article may say. Morehouse has for 140 years developed men—men who are equipped to live and contribute to an increasingly diverse, global and complex world.Let me be clear. I believe in the freedom of the press and its critical role in examining all facets of our society to foster reasoned discourse and to promote understanding of topics both popular and unpopular. We will not always agree with what is written. I disagree, however, in journalism that attempts to malign and distort, rather than inform and enlighten.I need not tell you that the black male is already faced with challenges in nearly every aspect of his life. Injustices abound. Families are broken. And our young black boys are failing to reachtheir potential in grade school and middle school at pandemic rates. And while the world grapples with complicated issues related to economic disparity, racism, sustainability, and diversity and tolerance, Morehouse stands in the breach, seeking answers to the pressing issues facing our young men, encouraging dialogue and expecting excellence.The world is complex, and it is diverse. Morehouse reflects that same complexity and that same diversity. It is unfortunate that the Vibe article will heighten misunderstandings and advance or inform little.In the end, no media outlet can shape who we are or in any way diminish our mission. But together we can encourage media outlets like Vibe to provide fair, well-researched and balanced journalism.Finally, Morehouse will stand by its values. We will continue to set high standards and focus on the development of our young men. Thank you for standing with us.Sincerely,Robert M. FranklinPresidentMorehouse CollegeTHOUGHTS!!

10/1/10

Embattled mega church preacher Bishop Eddie Long came as close to confessing his sexual debauchery as any debaucher could come without actually confessing. He cryptically told his singing, shouting, handclapping flock that he wasn't a perfect man, and that he would face some painful situations. This was a good step forward for Long. He didn't do the usual soft shoe, duck and dodge around the issue. Or worse, defiantly claim that he was being persecuted for being a pure and righteous man of God. Or even worse still, break out in a teary eyed plea to family and flock for forgiveness.

These are the stock ploys that a bevy of celeb preachers, politicians and a Pope snatch at when caught with their sexual hypocrisy exposed. Long didn't go there. He simply spun his hypocrisy as that of a man engaged in a thoughtful and reflective soul search. Long now should take one more step in his soul search and apologize for his greatest sin. That's his near decade long, relentless, gay bash. Long didn't just do what many conservative fundamentalist black preachers do and quietly twist scripture and verse to make the case that God condemns gays to eternal hell and damnation. He actively led crusades against gay marriage, and by extension gays, railed against them on his websites, in fiery sermons, loudly backed George W. Bush's federal amendment banning gay marriage, and led a slanderous march to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s gravesite to denounce gay marriage. Each new accusation that Long used his youth training academy as a cover to procure kid sex, may ultimately prove him to be not just a hypocrite, but a full blown sexual predator.

Long then should issue a statement, better still do what he does best, and deliver a sermon on tolerance. That's tolerance toward all those who have a different sexual preference. He should invite the leaders of the nation's top gay rights organizations to take a front row seat at his church and look them square in the eye, as he preaches his sermon on tolerance. He should then make it plain to his mostly black congregation that he does not want them to mindlessly and blindly shout "Jesus Jesus" and "it's time to praise him," and sang hymns such as "white as snow" as they did when he made his kind of sort of admission of guilt from the pulpit. This reinforces the despicable notion that blacks are narrow, bigoted, and brain dead zombies who will give a pass to even the most blatant and outrageous criminal and sexual behavior and exploitation as long as it's done in the name of Jesus and the offender is black.

Afterwards, Long should announce in tandem with gay organization leaders that New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will set up a new academy dedicated to the principle and practice of tolerance. He took a light step in that direction some time back when at the prodding of Soulforce, a gay Christian advocacy group, he played at having a dialogue on his attitudes toward gays. That didn't go very far. This time it should.

Long set the standard of bigotry and bias for a new generation of conservative fundamentalist mega black churchmen on gay rights. An apology and outreach won't undo that. It can though be a step toward his personal repentance.